Author's Purpose

Author's purpose

Draw

Underline important words you know in green.

Underline important words you don't know in red.

Poll

Which statement below would be the BEST I can statement to match this standard?

• In a fiction text, I can figure out the author's reason for writing and how that affects the text.

• In a nonfiction text, I can see how the author's purpose affects what they say in the text and how they say it.

• In a text, I can determine the authoror's purpose and why they wrote it.

• In a nonfiction text, I can see the choices the author made and why they made them.

Open Ended

You are in 10th grade. You have learned about author's purpose for the last 7 years. What do you remember about author's purpose?

You may remember...
P
I
E​

Persuade, Inform, Entertain

Author's purpose

Poll

Do you think that authors purposes only include persuade, inform, and entertain?

• Yes

• No

• I'm not really sure.

Author's purpose is more complex than just PIE.

Author Purpose...

• The reason the author wrote the piece of writing.

• This also includes the goal the author has once someone reads the text.

  • Could include words like: Persuade, Inform, Entertain, but also words like: Show, Convince, Describe, Explain, Tell, Satirize (use of humor to criticize people's stupidity), Compare, Criticize

• It's more than just PIE.

1. Author's intended audience

2. Genre of writing

3. Author's tone

​

How to find Author's Purpose: Look at 3 things:

1. Author's Intended Audience

• What does this mean?

  • Intended means planned

  • Audience means the group of people the author intends to read and interact with their writing.

• Why is this important?

  • An author writes differently based on their audience.

  • Consider the audience's age, sex, education level, culture, geographic location, interests

Match

Match the audience with the paragraph about love.

• Love can feel like the most exciting and confusing adventure of your life. It might come with butterflies in your stomach, moments of joy, and maybe even a little heartache. At this stage, love is often about exploring connections, learning what you value in relationships, and understanding your emotions. Whether it’s a crush on someone at school or a deep bond with a friend, love teaches you about yourself and helps you grow. Don’t rush it—take time to enjoy the journey and remember that it’s okay to make mistakes along the way.

• Love, much like academia, is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that evolves over time. It’s been studied across disciplines—from psychology and biology to literature and sociology—offering unique insights into human behavior and connection. Whether in the context of romantic partnerships, familial bonds, or friendships, love remains one of the most compelling forces that shape our identities and interactions. In your classrooms, you likely see love manifest as a passion for knowledge, a dedication to teaching, or the collaborative spirit among students. Reflecting on love’s role in both personal and professional spheres can deepen its meaning and enrich your perspective.

• Love is often at the heart of family and community. It’s in the warmth of a mamá’s hug, the laughter shared over comida, and the respect shown to abuelos. Love is a language spoken through actions: a plate of tamales, a serenata, or the sacrifices made for a better future. Romantic love is celebrated with passion and tradition, from quinceañeras to bodas. But love also extends to pride in heritage and unity within the community. Embrace these expressions of love as they remind us of where we come from and the values that guide us.

• Love often comes with a touch of independence and mystery—much like the creatures you adore. A cat’s affection may be subtle: a gentle purr, a slow blink, or the way they curl up beside you after a long day. Loving a cat teaches patience and appreciation for small, quiet moments of connection. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t always need to be loud or constant; sometimes, it’s about simply being present and respecting each other’s space. In this, the love of a cat mirrors the best parts of human relationships: trust, mutual respect, and the joy of just being together.

• Love often comes with societal expectations about strength and vulnerability. It’s important to recognize that love isn’t a weakness but a source of strength. Whether it’s the love you show your family, your partner, or even your friends, it demands courage and honesty. Beware that toxic masculinity is just that, toxic. Love teaches you patience, empathy, and the value of expressing your feelings openly. Don’t be afraid to let those you care about see the softer side of you—it’s in these moments of vulnerability that the deepest connections are formed.

Teens

College Professors

Latinos

People who have a specific interest

Men

• Teens

• College Professors

• Latinos

• People who have a specific interest

• Men

Open Ended

Why does the author's audience matter?

2. Genre of writing

Genre is the classification of a literary

work by its form, content, and style into

categories such as poetry, drama, fiction,

and non-fiction.

Authors choose what type of genre best fits their purpose.

Multiple Select

A genre is a ________ or _________ of literature. (choose 2 answers)

• category

• type

• comma

ALL CATEGORIES OF LITERATURE CAN BE
CALLED EITHER FICTION OR NON-FICTION.

FICTION

●A MADE UP STORY
●CAN TELL ABOUT THINGS

THAT COULD HAPPEN

●IS READ FOR FUN
●CHARACTERS MAY BE LIKE

REAL PEOPLE OR
IMAGINARY

NON-FICTION

●HAS FACTS THAT CAN BE

CHECKED AND PROVEN

●THE AUTHOR IS AN EXPERT

ON THIS INFORMATION

●IT IS TRUE!

Multiple Select

There are 2 major genres: _______ and ________.

• non-fiction

• fraction

• fiction

​Within Fiction and Nonfiction, there are THREE DIVISIONS OF GENRE

• Focuses on emotion

• Word choice and imagery is extremely important

• Written in verse. May have rhythm and rhyme.

pOETRY

• ​The text of a play that is meant to be performed

• Includes stage directions, character names, etc.

Drama

• The text is written in paragraph form.

Prose

Categorize

Options (11)

"The Raven"

"7 poems"

Romeo and Juliet

Our Town

Gray's Anatomy

Editorial

Match the genre of writing with the correct category

Poetry

Drama

Prose

FICTION GENRES

●CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

●FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS

●DIARIES

●COMIC / HUMOR

●HORROR

●ROMANCE

●FABLES

●FOLK TALES

●FAIRY TALES

●HISTORICAL FICTION

●LGBTQ+

●LITERARY FICTION

●DYSTOPIAN

●METAFICTION

● MYTH AND LEGEND

● OCCUPATIONAL FICTION

● POLITICAL

● MYSTERY

● RELIGIOUS FICTION

●SHORT STORY

● WOMEN'S FICTION

● ACTION

● ADVENTURE

●SPORTS

​Circle your top 5

NON-FICTION GENRES

●

BIOGRAPHY

●

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

●

MEMOIR

●

CREATIVE

●

INFORMATIONAL

●

ESSAY

●

HISTORY

●

EDITORIAL

●

RELIGIOUS

●

SPEECH

●

HOW TO

Informational

● tells facts that can be looked-up or proven
● tells about real events
● characters have really lived
● may have maps, diagrams and illustrations to

explain the facts

● author is an expert on the subject

Informational

Found in different medium like: books,
newspaper, or magazine articles

Biography

Nonfiction that is informational writing about real
people but it is written by someone else.

Autobiography

Nonfiction that is a biography of a person written by
himself or herself

Memoir (Literary Nonfiction)

Nonfiction that follows one part of a person's life written by
himself or herself

Persuasive Genres

Types of persuasive texts

​Are arguing an issue for their side or against an opposing side

• Editorials - a newspaper or magazine article written by the editor who gives a personal opinion on a topic

• Essays - argue for or against an issue

• Speeches - arguments meant to be spoken

Multiple Choice

Identify the Genre:

A text that tells the reader how to put a tent together.

• Nonfiction

• Fiction

• Informational

• Drama

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of poetry?

• Stanzas

• Rhyme

• Introduction

• Rhythm

Multiple Choice

Identify the Genre:

A text that tells a story about a couple who move into a new house and hear strange voices. It uses stage directions and sound cues to help tell the story.

• Drama

• Fiction

• Poetry

• Nonfiction

Multiple Choice

Identify the Genre:

A book that tells a story about a talking lizard who has a cowboy adventure in the wild west.

• Nonfiction

• Poetry

• Fiction

• Informational

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of an argumentative text?

• Counterargument

• Bibliography (cited sources)

• Conclusion

• Setting

Multiple Choice

Identify the Genre:

A text that presents information about solar energy, explaining how it works and the benefits and drawbacks it has. It then explains the different ways it can improve our country.

• Drama

• Nonfiction

• Informational

• Argumentative

Multiple Choice

Fiction is typically organized in which of the following ways?

• Alphabetically

• Chronologically

• Narratively

• Topically

Multiple Choice

What is a key characteristic of argumentative texts?

• They tell a story to entertain the reader.

• They contain a claim that the writer wants to argue.

• They provide step-by-step instructions.

• They describe a person, place, thing, or idea.

Multiple Choice

When reading an argumentative text, what are readers expected to determine about the ideas and evidence presented?

• If they are based on the author's personal experiences.

• If they are logical and well-structured.

• If they are presented in chronological order.

• If they are based on popular opinion.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of reading informational text?

• To follow a narrative

• To gain knowledge

• To be entertained

• To learn a new language

Multiple Choice

What does a drama typically contain?

• Scenes and acts

• Chapters and verses

• Dialogues and monologues

• Instructions and guidelines

Multiple Choice

What is a common characteristic of literary nonfiction?

• It is purely fictional and does not focus on real events.

• It is focused on a real person.

• It does not contain any lessons or morals.

• It is written in a non-narrative structure.

Open Ended

Explain how the author's intended audience works together with the genre to create author's purpose.

In other words, how does WHO the author writes for and WHAT the genre is affect the author's purpose?

So, we have learned that author's intended audience + genre can help determine author's purpose. But that's not all you need...quick review.

Multiple Choice

"A writer's reason for crafting a particular work" is the definition for which term:

• Author's Perspective

• Author's Tone

• Author's Purpose

• Author's Style

Multiple Choice

What is author's tone?

• Attitude or feeling expressed by the author in their writing

• The author's tone is the number of pages in the writing.

• Author's tone is the main idea or theme of the writing.

• The author's tone refers to the font style used in the writing.

Multiple Choice

Diction refers to...

• An author's style
• An author's choice of words and syntax
• An author's tone
• An author's perspective

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of Tone?

• persuade
• inform
• entertain
• enthusiastic

• The author's attitude towards the subject

• Created by their diction (word choice)

Tone

​​How or why did they choose those words?

​3. Author's Tone

​Highlight diction (word choice) that brings out an emotion in you.

​What tone is created by this author?

​Put it all together:
1. Who is this author's intended audience?
2. What genre is this writing?
3. What is the tone?

So what is the author's purpose? Fill in the equation.

Draw

Please highlight the diction that author uses that jumps out to you.

Open Ended

Now that you've discovered the tone of the text, please answer the following questions.

What is the author's intended audience? What genre of writing is this? What is the tone?

What is the author's purpose in writing this piece?

Please see if you can can combine this information into one or two sentences.

Multiple Choice

The word is terracide. It is not committed with guns and knives, but with relentless bulldozers, roaring dump trucks, and giant shovels like mythological beasts. Dynamite cuts and rips apart mountains to reach the minerals inside, leaving nothing but empty, naked hills. The land is left wasted and allowed to slide down upon houses and into streams, making the land unlivable and the stream water undrinkable. This is terracide, or if you prefer, strip mining.

The author's purpose is to

• inform you about the purposes of strip mining.

• describe a strip mining operation.

• persuade you that strip mining is bad for the environment.

• define terracide.

Multiple Choice

The human sex chromosomes are of the XX-XY pattern. The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome. Two types of sperm cells are formed during gametogenesis; half of these have the X chromosome and the others have the Y chromosome. Every egg cell has an X chromosome; therefore, fertilization determines the sex. If a Y sperm cell fertilizes the egg, a male develops.

The author's purpose is to

• explain how the sex of humans is determined.

• describe chromosomes.

• tell the steps in fertilization.

• contrast X and Y chromosomes.

Multiple Choice

To make a delicious New England pit, proceed as follows: take some water and flour; then construct a bullet-proof dough. Make this into a disk-shaped object. Dry it for a couple of days in a mild temperature. Pour on stewed dried apples and slabs of citron; leave it in a safe place until it petrifies. Serve cold at breakfast and invite your mother-in-law.

The author's purpose is to

• tell the steps in making a pie.

• make fun of (satirize) New England cooking.

• persuade the reader to buy New England pie.

• describe New England pie.

Multiple Choice

On September 23, a large cavalry troop from Fort Robinson arrived at the camp of Sitting Bull. Just as he was about to give a welcoming speech, a commotion broke out among the watching warriors. Rifles were fired, and the meeting ended in a massacre of the soldiers.

The author's purpose is to

• describe Sitting Bull’s camp.

• persuade the reader that the Indians were bloodthirsty.

• tell the events leading to a massacre.

• explain the problems of the Calvary.

Multiple Choice

Dear Tall, Dark and Handsome — This is your lucky day! The girl of your dreams is just a phone call away. I am 5’ 10’’, slim, pretty, and only 23. I love pop music, good books, exotic foods, and foreign travel. Give me a ring any day after 6 P.M. You won’t be sorry. Your gal, Jackie.

The author's purpose is to

• convince the reader to call the writer.

• describe the writer objectively.

• criticize the writer’s lack of intelligence.

• entertain the reader with some interesting facts.